by Lucy Langton
A Pirate's Tantalizing Passion
A REGENCY ROMANCE NOVEL
LUCY LANGTON
Copyright © 2019 by Lucy Langton
All Rights Reserved.
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Table of Contents
A Pirate's Tantalizing Passion
Table of Contents
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A Pirate's Tantalizing Passion
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue
Risking it All for the Sinful Earl
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
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A Pirate's Tantalizing Passion
Introduction
Miss Maria, daughter of Lord and Lady Willcox has been regretting her scandalous behavior the past summer, which cost her a possible match. On the bright side though, she now has plenty of time to think about her future. As Maria ventures out for a stroll through the market of Portsmouth, along with her brother and her best friend, the last thing she would expect was an ambush of pirates. In an attempt to flee the chaos, Maria comes face to face with the most handsome man she’s ever seen. His eyes tantalize her. Will she be able to resist this forbidden temptation?
When James, a pirate who has travelled from the Barbary Coast to the British Islands, sees Maria he can’t help but think that he’s never seen a more beautiful creature ever in his life. His tanned skin, long brown hair and his mysterious green eyes make him the most wanted pirate in town. But from the moment he spotted her, he knew she should be his, at any cost. How much will he be willing to risk for her?
As Maria is thrown into a whole new world where survival becomes crucial, she’ll quickly realise that there is a whole other side to the man that kidnapped her. The more Maria tries to escape, the more her heart beats in an insane speed for the man with the dark, green eyes. What kind of games will fate play?
Chapter 1
The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed one o’clock, echoing throughout the townhouse on a warm summer’s day. For the servants of Lord Willcox, they knew that it was time to serve afternoon tea to the family in the drawing room. Mrs. Bath would bring in the tea tray with an assortment of goodies that she’d baked that morning. Lord and Lady Willcox would join their children for the refreshment and ideally chat about the day thus far. But for Miss Maria, it meant that this boring day wasn’t over yet.
She’d already spent the morning practicing a musical number she wanted to play the next time she visited the orphanage with Mrs. Bath, who liked to cook sweet treats for the children. It was a happy tune that the children could dance to and would hopefully fill them with joy and hope for a brighter future.
Then she’d written a letter to her best friend, Charlotte, who’d married this past spring after a successful Season in London. To the Ton, she’d been the most beautiful and accomplished debutante, and therefore had been the apple of every gentleman’s eye. It didn’t take Charlotte long to be transformed from a Miss to a Lady. But according to Charlotte’s last letter, married life wasn’t all that she’d dreamed it would be. Maria had tried to write something that would cheer her up, even inviting Charlotte to come and stay with her family in Portsmouth for the summer to enjoy the fresh air and the lively coming and going of ships. She did hope that Charlotte would accept her offer because she’d been terribly bored ever since the Season had ended.
As Maria sat reading a novel in the drawing room, her legs tucked under her in a most unladylike way, her thoughts turned back to why she hadn’t been as fortunate as Charlotte. Though Maria possessed stunning looks with her golden hair that hung in ringlets and piercing green eyes that sparkled mysteriously in every ballroom, it was Maria’s choice of words that seemed to always turn a gentleman away from her. She had a tendency to be a bit assertive when she voiced her opinions on different political or social matters, and though a gentleman wanted a beauty for a wife, they did not want one who spoke their mind. And therefore, at the age of eighteen, Maria was still unmarried.
“A penny for your thoughts, dear sister,” Gregory spoke up, pulling Maria from her personal reflection. She hadn’t even heard him come into the room. As she looked up at him, with his blond hair and blue eyes shining back at her, she couldn’t help but smile as she set her novel aside. He was dressed in the latest fashions − trousers of plaid cotton twill, a brown tailcoat of wool broadcloth with velvet collar, a vest of black silk with a cut-velvet woven floral pattern, and to top it off, a silk pongee scarf. He could be considered a dandy with his tight-fitting clothes of the finest quality. In Maria’s opinion, she thought he should just wear a muslin shirt around the house on a warm day such as this.
“It is nothing, Gregory. I was simply thinking about what else to do with my time today. I’m contemplating a walk around the gardens because it is a beautiful day, but I don’t want to become tanned,” Maria said, covering up her own thoughts with a truth. She truly did not want to do anything that might disturb her natural beauty, even though she did love being outdoors and close to the ocean shore. She let her feet fall back to the floor, her slippers meeting the carpet as she smoothed down her white morning gown.
“Well, I might be able to fix that predicament,” Gregory said with a wink as their parents, Lord and Lady Willcox, entered the room before Mrs. Bath and the afternoon tea tray.
Maria took her attention from her brother as she stood and curtsied to her parents. “Mama, I have barely seen you all day. Pray tell, what have you been up to?” Maria asked, hoping to pass the time with conversation.
“Nothing of excitement, I assure you. I’ve just been helping your father with a bit of business, that is all,” Lady Willcox replied as she sat on the adorned settee, one of her favorite pieces in the room. When they had moved to Portsmouth from London a few years ago for her father’s investments, Lady Willcox had enjoyed re-decorating the entire house, intent on bringing the latest fashions to the port. Therefore the room had many elegant furnishings, exquisite carved furniture, and an expensive piano, all set upon a Brussels weave carpet and against a backdrop of crème coloured wallpaper and rich
curtains to give the space a feeling of great luxury. At night, the space glittered from the light cast from two ornate chandeliers which highlighted the plaster cornices and intricate ceiling roses. And all of it had been paid for with Lord Willcox’s great wealth.
Maria simply sighed as she looked at it all, taking a sip of the lavender tea Mrs. Bath had made that afternoon. Maria particularly enjoyed this type of tea and was thankful for the small comfort. But Maria worried that her mother had sensed her state of mood as Lady Willcox turned her attention to her daughter.
“Come, child, what has you all melancholy this fine day?” Lady Willcox asked before taking a dainty bite of a blueberry scone, as a lady should.
Maria put on a smile for her mother as she set aside her teacup. “I’m not sad, Mother, simply bored. I miss the excitement of the Season and feel like I have no friends left in Portsmouth,” Maria explained. She didn’t want to give her mother the wrong impression or else she might be scolded for not using her time wisely.
“Then perhaps I could purpose an outing, dear sister?” Gregory piped up before Lady Willcox could enlighten Maria with a lesson on running a household.
“And what is it that you suggest?” Maria asked, a true smile coming over her lips.
“I’m expecting a visit from Lord Crawford. He wants to visit the port’s market and see the privateer packet ship that has docked this morning. I’m afraid my dear friend has a heart for excitement and wants to gaze upon the brave souls who go out to fight pirates,” Gregory explained with a gleeful smile, making it obvious to Maria that he was equally as excited to see these fighting men. And not wanting to disappoint her brother, she couldn’t help but indulge him.
“I’m sure a walk around the port’s market would be lovely,” Maria replied as she returned to her tea.
“And Lord Crawford is a good man,” Lord Willcox spoke up, giving Maria a pointed look. It was from her father that she had inherited her piercing green eyes, while her hair was from her mother. And now although those green eyes bore into Maria, she did not dare look away.
“I agree that Lord Crawford is a charming gentleman. He has a large fortune. I hear ten thousand pounds a year. Indeed, he would make a fantastic match for any young lady. Perhaps you’d like to sell me to him to increase your own fortune, just like you sell and buy slaves for your plantations in the West Indies,” Maria said, her voice rising with her temper. She often came to speak harsh words with her father, and her proud nature often encouraged her to speak her mind with the man.
“Hush your mouth, young lady. That is no way to speak to your father,” Lady Willcox said, setting her teacup down with a loud clank. Maria was afraid her mother might have chipped the fine china, another expensive item bought by the hands of slaves. Maria couldn’t forgive her father for entering into such a business investment, and therefore they often argued over the matter.
“You should be grateful,” Lady Willcox continued, “because all we have is thanks to your father’s investments. I don’t remember you complaining about your elegant gowns this past Season, or the many balls that you were able to attend. All thanks to your father, no doubt.” Lady Willcox huffed as she looked away from her daughter, clearly upset. Maria dearly hated to upset her mother and felt guilty for her outburst.
“I’m sorry, Mother…Father,” Maria said, shifting her green eyes back to her father for a moment. Deep down, she wasn’t sorry for what she had said to him. “I’ll go and prepare for the outdoors, Gregory, so that we may go on an outing with Lord Crawford.”
“I’ll meet you in the foyer. I’m sure Lord Crawford will be by any moment now,” Gregory said softly. Maria hoped that he would try to pacify their parents the moment she was out of the room. Gregory was thankfully accustomed to Maria’s proud personality, even though she had a soft heart and showed kindness to all, regardless of their social status. Maria was also used to him coming to her rescue when she needed him most.
Maria stood and curtsied to her parents, keeping her eyes on the carpet as she left the room. She then pulled the drawing room doors tightly together and quickly walked away, her slippers making no sound on the marble floor as she made her way to the stairs. She didn’t care what her parents said about her. Maria was determined to live her life as much as she could by her own choosing. And that meant that sometimes she just had to speak her mind.
Chapter 2
After returning from her room on the second floor, changing into a muslin walking gown and half-boots made of leather, Maria put on a happy face for Gregory and Lord Crawford as she descended the engraved, wooden stairway carrying her lace parasol.
“A vision of beauty,” Lord Crawford said by way of greeting as he saw Miss Maria coming their way from the stairs. She smiled at him and his eyes sparkled with delight.
“You’re too kind, Lord Crawford,” Maria replied, reaching the landing and allowing the gentleman to take her hand and kiss the air above it. She curtsied in return. “I hear from my brother that you are excited to see the privateer’s packet ship?” Maria said as Mr. Thatcher, the butler, opened the front door for them to depart. Lord Crawford offered his arm to Maria, and although she hesitated because she preferred to walk next to her brother, she didn’t want to offend her brother’s best friend. So Maria took his arm as they descended the front steps of the townhouse.
“Indeed, Miss Maria. I’ve always had an interest in the navy, and I have an uncle who is friends with an admiral. Growing up, I’ve always been surrounded by men in uniform. And now that pirates have become such an issue for Britain, I find privateers very interesting. Once I received word that a packet ship had docked in the port, I wrote to your brother right away and received his message promptly.” Lord Crawford smiled down at Maria, his dark brown hair and eyes giving him a handsome appearance. Maria couldn’t deny that Lord Crawford could truly please any young lady as he was a dandy in society, wearing the highest quality fabrics. “Yet the best part of this whole outing is getting to share it with my best friend and his beautiful sister,” he added.
Maria laughed with Gregory, although a small blush came across her cheeks. Though she’d spent plenty of time with Lord Crawford in the past because he was so close to her brother, she never had an inkling that he’d consider her as anything more than his best friend’s sister. But as Maria felt the way Lord Crawford held her arm closely to him, it made her wonder if his words to her meant more than just friendship.
Maria became flustered with her thoughts and the possibilities as they entered the port’s market, the smells of faraway lands greeting her. She smiled and made sure to include herself in the conversation between Lord Crawford and Gregory, but she felt very overwhelmed at the possibility of being courted by someone she’d known for so long but never considered more than a good friend. Though she looked around at all the goods, silks, and fabrics with the gentlemen, she was starting to worry about what would happen between Lord Crawford and Gregory if she were to deny a proposal by him. Or even what her father would say to her if she denied such a prestigious offer. Lord Crawford was an Earl, after all.
Maria tried to focus instead on the wares of the market. She loved coming down to the port’s market simply to see what new goods had arrived. Many merchants proudly displayed their hard-earned goods on sunny days such as today, and Maria enjoyed tilting back her parasol to see all that was being shown. As Maria neared a spice stall, she let go of Lord Crawford’s arm so she could get a better look. She loved inhaling their exotic scents, imagining where in the world they had come from. Maria stood for a few minutes, taking deep breaths, closing her eyes and envisioning far off places that only sailing on a ship would take her.
Commotion pulled Maria from her daydream as she opened her eyes to cries and shouts. She looked around her, puzzled, as she dropped her parasol. She peered through the crowd, who were all staring at something in the distance. Then, they were running.
“Pirates! Pirates!” people were shouting as they ran between the merchant s
talls, trying to find a way to escape or a place to hide. Panicked, Maria looked around for Gregory and Lord Crawford, but couldn’t see them. Did they turn and flee back home? Were they down by the packet ship to get a better look?
Taking a chance, Maria gripped her muslin gown and the layers underneath and lifted them a little higher than was ladylike before she darted towards the packet ship, down a dock riddled with crates. If her mother would have seen her, Maria knew that she would have been lectured all evening over the way she ran, with her ankles and lower calves showing to reveal her stockings. But at that moment, Maria wasn’t worried about appearances. She was more concerned about finding her brother and getting to safety.
The further down the dock she ran, the more she realised that she was away from the majority of the chaos. With it being quieter there and deciding that hiding was better than running for the time being, Maria ducked behind a stack of crates, kneeling as she waited for whatever was transpiring in the market to be over. Were the pirates here to steal goods from the market? Are they going to kidnap anyone? Panicked thoughts stole through Maria’s mind as she tried to listen to what was going on around her. Shouts. Cries. Screams. Madness was all Maria could hear and she silently prayed for a savior.